Founding Father Ruminations

As election season wraps her sinuous hands around a sound-bite driven electorate, I thought it would be good to have an infusion of some of the thoughts, quotes, and ponderings from the founding fathers of our nation. So take a break from the mud slinging and Facebook political overload and refresh your mind with thoughts from the minds that birthed a dream called America.

********************

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government.

~George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796

All see, and most admire, the glare which hovers round the external trappings of elevated office. To me there is nothing in it, beyond the lustre which may be reflected from its connection with a power of promoting human felicity.

I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.

~George Washington, letter to Francis Van der Kamp, May 28, 1788

I hope, some day or another, we shall become a storehouse and granary for the world.

~George Washington, letter to Marquis de Lafayette, June 19, 1788

(T)he foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; …the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained…”

~George Washington, First Inaugural, April 30 1789

A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprising. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them sober, industrious, and frugal.

~John Adams,Thoughts on Government, 1776

But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.~

~John Adams,letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it. ~John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety. ~ Benjamin Franklin

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing. ~Benjamin Franklin, from his writings, 1758

How many observe Christ’s birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.

~Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1743

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. ~Benjamin Franklin, letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, November 13, 1789

A judiciary independent of a king or executive alone, is a good thing; but independence of the will of the nation is a solecism, at least in a republican government. ~Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Ritchie, December 25, 1820

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.

~Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query 18, 1781

But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years.

~Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1789

Excessive taxation will carry reason & reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election.

~Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, November 26, 1798

If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws — the first growing out of the last…. A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.

~Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1792

But where says some is the King of America? I’ll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain…let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING.

~Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenues and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without tribute.

~Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. ~Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

~Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.

~Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 4, September 11, 1777

Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” ~John Adams

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” ~Patrick Henry

“The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them … the weak will become prey to the strong.” ~Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War